September 30, 2013

Monday Midday Must-Reads

-When a United Airlines pilot suffered a heart attack mid-flight last week, some industry analysts wonder if the government's mandatory pilot age retirement which was raised from 60 to 65 several years ago should be reevaluated. This CNN report says the FAA may look more closely at a pilot's heart health during annual exams.

-The Associated Press' Scott Mayerowitz takes a look at the new fees airlines are implementing this fall for extra legroom, early boarding and hot meals in this article. "Unlike the first generation of charges which dinged fliers for once-free services like checking a bag, these new fees promise a taste of the good life, or at least a more civil flight," Mayerowtiz writes.

-And speaking of fees, airlines generated more than $27.1 billion from fess for services such as checked bags, according to USA Today. A report by IdeaWorksCompany said ancillary revenue can represent more than 38 percent of an airline's total revenue.